From CNBC: 2025-02-07 14:21:06

Many workers value remote work so much that they would take a pay cut to work from home, even part-time, according to studies. The prevalence of telework surged during the pandemic, with work-life balance being the biggest benefit cited by employees.

Some researchers have quantified the financial value of telework, finding that about 40% of workers would accept a pay cut of at least 5% to keep their remote job. This equates to workers seeing the ability to work from home a few days a week as equivalent to getting a raise.

However, not all Americans prefer out-of-office work, with some citing feeling more connected to co-workers and benefiting from mentoring opportunities in an office setting. Despite this, big companies have initiated return-to-office mandates, including President Donald Trump’s order for federal employees to return to in-person work.

On a national scale, the number of paid days worked from home has held steady for the past two years at between 25% and 30%, according to WFH Research. Remote work also benefits businesses, allowing for savings on real estate, access to a wider talent pool, and reduced turnover rates among employees who work from home.

Read more: Many workers would take a pay cut to work from home